Cricket | SA Team

De Villiers, Philander shoot up rankings

Proteas players AB de Villiers and Vernon Philander have soared up the ICC test rankings after South Africa's 1-0 series victory over New Zealand.

Middle-order batsman De Villiers, who made two half-centuries against the Black Caps, rose four places to reach the top of the rankings table for batsmen for the first time in his career, in the latest list released on Friday.

He drew level with Australia's Michael Clarke to share the No 1 spot with 821 points.

Jacques Kallis, meanwhile, dropped one place to third, while Hashim Amla, the only other SA batsman in the top 10, climbed two positions to eighth.

Pace bowler Vernon Philander, who became the second fastest player to reach 50 test wickets in the third and final test, rose 11 places to a career-best fifth in the rankings for bowlers.

Dale Steyn retained top spot, while Morne Morkel dropped one position to 10th.

Kallis remained in second place as the country's top-ranked allrounder.